Springboks on the run give England a new challenge

THEY have come to terms with many things in this country in recent years. The Afrikaner faithful who pack Loftus Versfeld late this afternoon have coped well enough with seismic changes in government and lifestyle. And now for the big test. Are they prepared to see their beloved Springboks throw off the shackles and run the ball?

By Mick Cleary

12:00AM BST 17 Jun 2000

THEY have come to terms with many things in this country in recent years. The Afrikaner faithful who pack Loftus Versfeld late this afternoon have coped well enough with seismic changes in government and lifestyle. And now for the big test. Are they prepared to see their beloved Springboks throw off the shackles and run the ball?

That is the stated intention of coach Nick Mallett. That is the stated intention of his senior players. Word is one thing; deed is quite another.

Mallett has long since wanted his men to move away from the blinkered, one-dimensional subdue-and-penetrate approach that has been the hallmark of Springbok rugby. He urged his players to break free during last autumn's World Cup. Come the crunch in Paris against England and they reverted to type. Pretty effective type, mind you, as Jannie de Beer's boot did for England.

"We've got to move forward if we're to beat the best teams in the world," said the Springbok coach. "The recent law changes encourage teams to do just that. Certainly the best Super 12 sides played that way. Our guys are comfortable with the concept. They have got the freedom to express themselves."

Mallett has gone with a form selection, choosing 10 players from South Africa's most successful Super 12 outfit, the Stormers. And have England the wherewithal to halt the revolution in its tracks? Without a doubt. The 'Boks are no more than a solid, workmanlike side on paper. They have a talented and effective back-row, a lively presence in midfield in Robbie Fleck, a tantalisingly gifted wing in Breyton Paulse and a reliable goal-kicker in Braam van Straaten. But South Africa do not make the heart miss a beat the way the All Blacks or Australia do.

England have selected well. They lost the plot at Murrayfield two months ago, ignoring the basics of scrum and line-out. In their desire to play far and wide the Springboks might well fall into the same trap. England have Martin Johnson back in harness in the second row, alongside Danny Grewcock. The pair will bring solidity to the scrum as well as flexibility to the line-out. Saracens' Julian White gets a deserved first outing on the tighthead. The 27-year-old Devonian is a hefty tight scrummager.

"The Springboks will be physical up front," says White. "It's an awesome challenge."

And so it is. But England have enough ballast and street wisdom in their ranks to cope. They look settled behind the scrum as well. The loss of Matt Dawson at scrum-half is not that significant, given that Kyran Bracken has many attributes of his own. Dawson, though, did have an extraordinary knack of making things happen, particularly against the Springboks.

Bracken and his opposite number, Joost van der Westhuizen, have both been under the medical cosh for large chunks of this season. Bracken has missed 10 months, Van der Westhuizen almost the entire Super 12.

Van der Westhuizen's knee may have mended but his head has yet to get the message. His trademark break from the base is not at full-bore as he lacks the confidence to really push off. Last week's outing against Canada was his first full match since the World Cup.

"England have been playing brilliant rugby," says Van der Westhuizen. "We didn't outplay them in Paris. It was only the drop goals that put us through."

Keep an eye out for Paulse, the new darling of South African rugby. He scored two tries against Canada, one of which will surely ranks as the best of the season. The return of Dan Luger to England's left wing will add a touch of class.

The match is evenly poised. Woodward's men might just be the lone English winner of this packed sporting weekend.